I think that we should buy a house and take whatever small tax advantages come with it as well as the equity we put in. What do you think, Ilyce?

A: You should only buy a house if you’re going to purchase a fixer upper at a great deal, and then fix it up to build in value. If housing prices soften over the next two years, you may lose quite a bit of money. It’s a risky proposition. You and your wife need to have a frank discussion about how much risk you’re willing to take.